BUS 101 – Introduction To Business

The course will cover five modules with the following learning objectives:

Module 1: THE CONTEXT OF BUSINESS

  • Describe US GDP, nominal and real GDP growth rates, GDP per capita, inflation, federal budget/deficit/surplus, industries, economic indicators
  • Identify the four phases of the business cycle, rate of inflation, difference between industries, economic bubbles.
  • Use graphs to analyze where we are in the business cycle, economic indicators to predict where we are heading in the business cycle
  • Describe GDP, nominal and real GDP growth rates, GDP per capita, inflation, currency for developed and emerging countries. Describe the global nature of financial flows.
  • Identify criteria for healthy economic activity including stable government, market access, currency, viable infrastructure and rational regulation.
  • Use economic, government, corruption, market access, currency trends, and infrastructure analysis to evaluate the feasibility of doing business in a specific country.

Module 2: ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND LEGAL FORMS OF BUSINESS

  • Describe the legal forms of businesses (Sole proprietorships, partnerships, corporations, LLCs, Sub S), entrepreneurship, business models, components of business plans, breakeven analysis.
  • Identify the pros and cons of the legal forms of business.
  • Use tax rates to calculate the after-tax profit of various forms of business.
  • Use breakeven analysis to determine when a business will be profitable.
  • Analyze the appropriateness of various legal forms for various business situations.
  • Create a business plan for a small business including breakeven analysis

Module 3: MARKETING

  • Describe markets, market size, market share, demographics, customers, segmentation by demographics, behavior, psychographics, geography. Analyze the cultural aspects of marketing.
  • Describe and analyze customer life cycle, customer value proposition and be able to articulate the customer value proposition and place customers on the customer life cycle and determine appropriate marketing.
  • Demonstrate understanding of the market mix (product, price, place and promotion), brand, and product (development, technology adoption cycle, product life cycle. Be able to place a product on the product life cycle and determine appropriate marketing.

Module 4: ACCOUNTING, FINANCE AND BANKING

  • Describe and analyze components of the income statement and balance sheet.
  • Compare key financial ratios such as profit margin, return on equity, debt to equity ratio across companies.
  • Describe the key functions of banks and understand the role of interest rates and credit analysis.
  • Describe the role of the Federal Reserve especially with regards to the recent financial crisis.
  • Calculate and analyze financial ratios and growth rates for a company and compare it to a competitor.
  • Understand and calculate the time value of money.

Module 5: MANAGEMENT

  • Describe corporate mission, culture, corporate social responsibility, leadership, human resource management and unions.
  • Use available sources (10K, company website, financial websites, Hoovers, etc.) to research and articulate company mission, culture and management
  • Analyze corporate mission, culture, leadership, social responsibility of a company.
  • Identify and compile relevant employee benefits.
  • Engage and complete a simple labor negotiation